Access and Affordability

[johnwesley]

<p>Daniel de Vise’s Washington Post education column is one of the hidden gems of the blogosphere, IMHO. Here his voice echoes some of what this thread has been about these past two months:

Some top universities dispense aid solely according to need. But remember, Bethesda’s “middle class” earns quite a lot of money and would be deemed wealthy anywhere else. Families living in tiny Bethesda homes earn enough to price themselves out of need-based aid.</p>

<p>Five or 10 years ago, a Bethesda family might have solved this problem by biting the bullet and paying full price: shelling out $40,000 or $50,000 a year to attend a premier national university that’s unwilling to sweeten the deal with aid. </p>

<p>Today, many families have lost that option.

[Five</a> college admissions tips for the A-minus student - College, Inc. - The Washington Post](<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/college-inc/post/five-admissions-tips-for-the-a-minus-student/2012/07/11/gJQAzku3cW_blog.html]Five”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/college-inc/post/five-admissions-tips-for-the-a-minus-student/2012/07/11/gJQAzku3cW_blog.html)</p>